Imitation solid-fuel fire, advertising sign, and the like



R. D. BEST Sept. 16, 1930.

IMITATION SOLID FUEL FIRE, ADVERTISING SIGN, AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Nov. 14I 1928 Hl). Bes' /N veA/Toni.

Sept. 16, 1930.

R. D. BEST IMITATON SOLID FUEL FIRE. ADVERTISING SIGN, AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 14, 19.28

2 Sheets-Sheer. 2

#TFTP JJJ Fig.3

Patented Sept. 16, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT DUDLEY BEST, F BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND Application led November 14, 1928, Serial No. 319,401, and in Great Britain November 22, 1927.

This invention relates primarily to artificial fires in which a source of light, such as an electric light, is placed behind a suitably coloured glass or other screen.

The object of the present invention is to produce a flickering effect in a novel manner, and for this purpose the invention comprises the use in combinationwith a suitable source of light, of a quantity of liquid through which 1o the light is passed and through which air or other gas or vapour is bubbled, and a translucent screen on which the flickering effect is received.

In particular the invention comprises the lf3 use in combination with a suitable light source, of a quantity of liquid the free flat surface of which is agitated by air or other gas or vapour bubbles.

In the two accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings Figure l is a sectional side elevation and Figure 2 a sectional plan of an electric fire provided with this invention.

Figure 3 is a plan of an opaque screen.

which may be used between the lamp and the liquid.

In carrying the invention into effect as Shown, I employ a pair of glass vessels a, b which are connected together by a pipe c. A

plain or coloured liquid is placed in the vessels so that it fills the pipe and occupies the lower part of each vessel. One of the vessels (a) is placed between an electric filament lamp d or other source of light, and a trans- C lucent or other sheet of glass e. Over the latter may be placed pieces of clear or translucent glass of any desired shape which may be coloured. In all cases, however, the screen as a whole is translucent. It is also convenient to place a sheet of coloured glass f between the lamp d and the bulb a; the liquid in a may then be colourless.

On applying heat to the other vessel (b), which may be effected by arranging it within an enclosure g adjacent to the lamp d, the vapour or air in the vessel b is expanded and first caused to displace the liquid, and subsequently the expanded vapour or air escapes from the vessel and bubbles up through the liquid in the other vessel a, causing an agitation of the liquid, particularly at its surface. Alternatively the heat may be applied by another lamp or any other convenient source of heat.

The liquid tends continuously to return from the vessel a to the vessel and the required action is automatically maintained. It .may be necessary, in most cases, to arrange the cool vessel at a higher level than the one which is heated. The action which proceeds between the vessels a, b is one which has been knowny and understood for many years and alsobeen applied to a variety of uses, and no further explanation is necessary. The best working conditions can readily be ascertained by trial.

Due to the bubbling of the vapour or air, or other gas, through the illuminated liquid in a, a pleasing flicker eiect is obtained, and

as the light is diffused by the screen e or other elements which it illuminates, the fiicker effect is also well diffused.

I find that for the purpose of electric fires it is convenient and advantageous to use as the source of light a metal filament lamp of the well known kind as illustrated in which a long filament is disposed in a zig Zag fashion around and parallel with the axis of the lamp. lVith such a lamp the diffused flickering light observed at the screen e is characterized by a streamer like effect. IVhilst other forms of light source may be used, I do not find that a source presenting a large area of uniform brightness, such as an electric filament surrounded by a white or coloured translucent bulb, gives such good results in imitation res as' an ordinary lamp of the kind above mentioned.

The streamerlike character of the flickering light can be accentuated by placing between v the lamp and the bulb a an opaque screen h (Figure 3) which is gapped or slotted as shown to provide apertures through which light can pass unobstructed from the lamp to the bulb a. The same effect can be obtained by suitably treating theglass screen f. Thus a pattern like the screen shown in Figure 3 may be painted on the glass screen f, the slotted part being located at the part through which the light from the lamp passes to the bulb a.

I find that an enhanced effect can be obtained by arranging at a suitable angle and position beneath the screen e, a sheet of hammered or inuiied glass 0 having an irregular surface.

It will be apparent that the invention is capable of being carried out in many ways, and I desire it to be understood that the example above described is given mainly for the purpose of elucidating the invention; My experiments appear to show that the best results are obtained when the liquid through which the light passes possesses a ltree fiat surface and the agitation caused by the bubbling action produces a disturbance of this surface. Also it is advantageous to contain the liquid in a spherical or like vessel capable of producing a lenticular action.

It will also be apparent that the invention is applicable to other analogous uses. Whilst primarily intended for use in conjunction with electric lires, it maybe employed in advertising and other devices in which an illuminated flickering effect is required.

In the electric fire illustrated in Figures l and 2, the lamp and flicker mechanism is enclosed in any suitable container Z on the front of which ordinary heating elements z' may be mounted, the latter being separated thermally from the interior by an asbestos or other suitable screen j and air space 7c.

I-Iaving thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. In artificial lires, illuminating devices, advertising signs and the like in which a flickering effect is required, the combination `comprising a pair of interconnected vessels containing` liquid, means by which light is transmitted through one of the vessels and by which heat is imparted to the other vessel Y for the purpose of producing agitation oi the liquid in the vessel through which the light passes, and a screen on which the flickering effect is received, substantially as described.

2. In artilicial fires, illuminating devices, advertising signs and the like in which a flickering effect is required, the combination comprising an electric lamp, a pair ot intern connected vessels containing liquid, a screen located between the lamp and one of the vessels, and a translucent screen on which the flickering effect is received, substantially as described.

3. In artificial fires, illuminating devices, advertising signs and the like in which a flickering eect is required, the combination comprising a pair of bulbous vessels containing liquid and connected by a tube whereby liquid can pass from either vessel to the other, an electric lamp arranged to pass light through one of the vessels and to impart heat to the other vessel, the heating eect in the one vessel resulting iii an agitation of the liquid in the other vessel, an enclosure for the lamp and the vessel to be heated, a screen on one side of said enclosure through which light passes from the lamp to the other vessel, and a screen on which the flickering etl'ect is obtained, substantially as described.

4. In artificial tires, illuminating devices, advertising signs and the like in which a flickering effect is required, the combination comprising a pair of bulbous vessels containing liquid and connected by a tube whereby liquid can pass from either vessel to the other, an electric lamp arranged to .pass light through one of the vessels and to impart heat to the other vessel, the heating effect in the one vessel resulting in an agitation of the liquid in the other vessel, an enclosure for the lamp and the vessel to be heated, a screen on one side of said enclosure through which light passes from the lamp to the other vessel, the said screen consisting in part of opaque portions, and a translucent screen on which the lickering effect is obtained, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this speciication.

ROBERT DUDLEY BEST. 

